New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-09
ME- TRAVEsys INTEREST IN JEROME PARK

HIS DEATH yoT LIERLY TO AFFECT raR LEAsE OF
THE RACK COURSE.
The flag Of ths American Jsexsy Club has besn
floating at halt IN inspect the memory VI that
whole so,ded sportsmaa Wilhau r Travsrs. In
efiess Mr. rraxers was Che Landlord Of she club. By
his death tte asseciatisa hoses somsshing moro thun
mensbsr and psrsous interested In the mtlre that
body nsuire What eject his death Will base upon IL
Ths American Jockey Club was Organized Tor royal
spert, M tsr peeats- Its members rich men
whsss sole dsssss t. sasuss themselves and tho
pnbhs BY improving tks breed Of horses. Lesnsrd
jerome, Jpdxs A. c. MSusea d. d. Wtthexs, Al gust
Belmont and W. r. 1rsvsn in the lead Of tho
movement Nj. jerome wa chief owner of . vAlusbfs
tract Of lsbd at TOrdhsm which the property
OF tho Jerome Park villa Site and Improvement
Company society formed IN the interest Of ITSELF
primarily and, remotely tor the improvement OF tho
breed OF hOrses. II was but natural that two
oiatious having the same cad In view should como
together for their mutual benefit.
The villa Site Company owned lands and was
there's harm In saying Unwilling to turn an honest
penny. The Jockey Club owned nothing but it,
charter and had no desire to be burdcned with
finances. The little hollow In which jerome Park
was laid out was lit for nothing but mili-pond or
iacetrack, most Of it under water In winter;
presumed to call 1t place for villa Sites, So
the Jockey Club leased from the Villa Site Company
Park tor term OF years. the conditions being that
the landlord the hand should supply to tho
tenant o stated Of money each year to be offered
purses for the improvement OF the breed OF horses
while the tenant the other hand should turn
to the landlord all the profits accruing to 1t through
its efforts to improve the breed OF horses. Leonard
Jerome, W. r. Travers and W: R. Garrison were the
principal stockholders In the Villa Site Company.
For years. before the betting on horse races
interfered with, the profits which the Jockey Club
turned over to ts landlord interesting to cntem
plate but for the last two years they have amounted
to little more than enough to pay the taxes ON the
landlords property Still that benefit, for tho
lands did not enough otherwise to pay their in
deDtedness to the State and county. The first lease
expired last year. but it was Immediately renewed
under the former conditions Tor term OF ten years
with provision that If the locke, Club forced
to suspend racing coud throw up its lease Of Jerome
Park at thirteen months notice TO the landlord. So,
the pool bill tails become law this year, tho
Christmas OF 1888 may end of Jerome Park.
In 1882 W. X. Travers bought OF W. r. Garrison.
son of the Commodore who lost his lite IN the railroad
wreck on the Long Branch Railroad few years ago.
his eutire interest Ia the Villa Site Company Having
already purchased stock of Leonard jerome. Dir.
Travers became TO all ntents And purposes the Jerome
Park Villa Site Company His will has been
made public, and it's contents will not change the
ature of the lease which stands between the
villa Site Company and the American Jockey Club.